Uttlesford

Uttlesford's population increased by about 10,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 79,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Uttlesford increased by 15.2%, from about 68,900 to 79,400.

The addition of about 10,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in Eastof England and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Uttlesford was home to, on average, 0.89 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Uttlesford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Uttlesford increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 1,000.

About 12.0% of people in Uttlesford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Uttlesford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Uttlesford residents that were studying increased from 2.1% to 2.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 55.3%, while the percentage of Uttlesford residents that were unemployed increased from 1.7% to 2.7%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Uttlesford

The percentage of Uttlesford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.1% to 2.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.3%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage of Uttlesford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.0%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Uttlesford

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Uttlesford was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.0 points.

In 2011, 28.3% of respondents in Uttlesford gave this religion on the census compared with 16.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 69.6% said they were Christian, compared with 82.2% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.3% to 8.0%.

In Uttlesford, 7.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.8% in 2001. In East, 7.3% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Uttlesford increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Uttlesford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Uttlesford, but at a slower rate than in Braintree (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Uttlesford).

In Uttlesford, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.4% in 2001 to 13.1% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Braintree increased from 6.7% to 13.2%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 14.6%.

The rate of social housing in Uttlesford remained close to 12.7%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74.4% to 71.6%.

Private renting in Uttlesford increased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Uttlesford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Uttlesford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17.5% to 14.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Uttlesford decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Uttlesford, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Uttlesford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.8% to 3.3% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74.8% in 2001. The percentage of Uttlesford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19.4% to 10.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Uttlesford decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Uttlesford, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Uttlesford

The percentage of single people in Uttlesford increased from 24.0% to 26.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 59.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Uttlesford that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 10.9%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 27.4% in 2001 to 31.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Uttlesford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.0% to 10.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in four (23.5%) households had only one person, compared with 24.7% in 2001. The percentage of households in Uttlesford which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 46.4% to 43.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Uttlesford increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Uttlesford, Eastof England and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Uttlesford

In 2011, 96.6% of Uttlesford residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.2% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 94.9% to 90.4%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.4% of people in Uttlesford said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.7% in 2001. About 1.2% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.5%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Uttlesford decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Uttlesford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

The percentage of households with children increased in Uttlesford, while falling in Horsham (one of the most statistically similar areas to Uttlesford based on ONS area classifications).

In Uttlesford, the proportion went up from 30.9% in 2001 to 32.3% in 2011, while across England it fell from 29.4% to 28.3%. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29.4% to 29.6%.

The proportion of households without children in Uttlesford fell from 59.6% to 58.0%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.5% to 9.7%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Uttlesford residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Uttlesford remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Uttlesford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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